Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

Detroit Cass Tech tailback Mike Weber had visited Michigan on several occasions. He went out to California to see USC. And he was connected with a number of schools during the recruiting process.

Everyone around him kept telling him that, at some point, he’d have “that feeling.”

It struck him while watching Michigan practice Wednesday. He realized he wanted to be a Wolverine and committed to the coaches for the 2015 class.

“Just seeing them practice and seeing how they respond on the field, I could see myself fitting into the offense really good,” said Weber, rivals.com’s No. 1-ranked player in the state. “The feeling told me to do it now, so I just did it.”

Watching the new U-M running game — implemented by new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier — had a surprising effect on Weber.

“That played a big part in my commitment and told me that he was really genuine and he did a lot of great things at Alabama,” Weber said of Nussmeier’s previous coaching stop. “He played a big part of it. So when he told me the things he told me, and I’ve seen it on the field, I pulled the trigger.”

The decision was significant for Michigan, which continues to recruit well in the state, despite sub-par seasons on the field. U-M now has Rivals’ top three 2015 players in state: Weber, Saginaw Heritage receiver Brian Cole at No. 2 and Birmingham Brother Rice quarterback Alex Malzone at No. 3. Scout.com’s rankings have Cole No. 1, then Detroit King offensive lineman Kyonta Stallworth (a Michigan State commitment), followed by Malzone and Weber.

“I was kind of shocked when he did it because he had talked about not doing it until the Army All-American game (in January),” said Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher, who visited Michigan with Weber on Wednesday. “He kind of got tired of the whole process.”

Part of Weber’s decision-making process was familiarity. His former Cass Tech teammate David Dawson is a U-M lineman. They talk every day, Weber said, which makes it easier for Weber to see himself running behind his friend again. Plus, ever since The Opening, a prep football event in Oregon last month, Malzone and Weber have been in regular contact.

Already 5-feet-10 and 215 pounds, Weber describes himself as a “downhill runner,” the type who would fit in the Nussmeier-designed offense. Wilcher called Weber a Marshall Faulk-type because “he can do everything.”

Though he has been running out of a spread offense and sharing carries at Cass, Wilcher said Weber will be the featured back as a senior. The individual goal is to become a powerful pass blocker, which Weber knows will serve him well this season and in college.

With the burden of his own recruiting removed, Weber plans to help the U-M class by luring other elite players.

“It’s real weird, I didn’t expect it to come (this early), either,” said Weber, who also had scholarship offers from MSU, Ohio State and many other top programs. “But I sat there and I thought about it. Me living in Michigan and having a Michigan degree will help me with jobs and stuff like that. My family can come see me play.

“It wasn’t about the players, it was about the enthusiasm and the way the coaches were. It was different.”